what3words Review: Location Addressing System
what3words helps logistics, e-commerce, and emergency service providers identify precise locations where standard addresses may be inaccurate. It is designed for teams needing to coordinate exact pickup or drop-off points.
At a glance
- Category
- Operations
- Best for
- Logistics companies, Emergency service providers, Ride-hailing services, E-commerce delivery teams, NGOs
- Pricing
- A free version is available. what3words Pro offers a 7-day free trial and then costs £29.99 per year.
- Key use cases
- E-commerce and Delivery, Emergency Services, Logistics and Ride-Hailing, Field Site Management
- Integrations
- Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Citymapper, Uber
- Official website
- what3words.com
what3words is a global addressing system that divides the world into 3-metre squares, each with a unique three-word identifier. Unlike standard street addresses, which may point to a general building, this system can specify an exact entrance or a rural spot without a registered address.
It is designed for businesses in logistics, ride-hailing, travel, and emergency services, as well as NGOs. The tool is available as a free app for basic location sharing and a Pro version for additional business needs.
Users can find, save, and share locations, with the app supporting offline GPS functionality to help with navigation when a data signal is unavailable. The system is available in over 60 languages and supports a variety of mapping integrations.
Buyers should confirm whether they need the basic free version or the Pro subscription, which adds AI-driven tools and file import capabilities for managing multiple locations.
Key Features
Assigns a unique three-word address to every 3m x 3m area globally.
Supports finding and navigating to locations using GPS without a data connection.
Available in the Pro version to help users plan routes or book rides using natural language.
Pro features that allow users to extract what3words addresses from CSVs, PDFs, images, or via a live camera scan.
The addressing system is available in more than 60 languages.
Use Cases
Supports more precise delivery locations to help drivers find specific building entrances.
Helps responders locate people in need in rural areas or parks where street addresses do not exist.
Supports location precision for pickup and drop-off points in high-traffic areas.
Supports saving and organizing specific work sites or meeting points into lists for team coordination.
Best For
Integrations
Pricing
A free version is available. what3words Pro offers a 7-day free trial and then costs £29.99 per year.
FAQ
While Google Maps is for general navigation, what3words provides a specific 3-metre square address, which is helpful for finding exact entrances or spots where no street address exists.
Yes, the app uses GPS to find and navigate to locations offline, though a data connection is needed to load maps or share addresses via social media.
The Pro plan includes AI Chat and Voice Chat for route planning, as well as tools to import and scan addresses from files and images.
Source category: Operations
Source subcategory: Location Addressing
